Late afternoon on a terraced path: a stooped grandfather with a staff, a father and a boy between them, seen small from behind under a calm clear sky.

The father’s talks

Proverbs 4

Someone handed you the way you live. What will you hand on?

27 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–7The father's talksWhy the book exists, then a father to his sonChapter 4
8–9Wisdom callsHer house and Folly's
10–22:16Solomon's sayingsTwo lines at a time
22:17–24The sayings of the wiseThirty sayings, and a few more
25–29Hezekiah's collectionMore of Solomon, copied out later
30AgurNumbered sayings from a weary man
31LemuelA mother's words, and the noble wife

A Father’s Instruction

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;

pay attention and gain understanding.

For I give you sound teaching;

do not abandon my directive.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

When I was a son to my father,

tender and the only child of my mother,

he taught me and said,

“Let your heart lay hold of my words;

keep my commands and you will live.

Reflect

What was handed to you

What did the people who raised you hand you, good or bad? What do you want to pass on?

Listen, my son, and receive my words,

and the years of your life will be many.

I will guide you in the way of wisdom;

I will lead you on straight paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;

when you run, you will not stumble.

Hold on to instruction; do not let go.

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked

or walk in the way of evildoers.

Avoid it; do not travel on it.

Turn from it and pass on by.

For they cannot sleep

unless they do evil;

they are deprived of slumber

until they make someone fall.

For they eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining brighter and brighter until midday.

But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;

they do not know what makes them stumble.

Question

Quick question

Verse 18 gives one picture of the road.

What is the path of the righteous like?

Two paths

Whiteboard

Two roads, and every step is on one of them.

My son, pay attention to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

Do not lose sight of them;

keep them within your heart.

For they are life to those who find them,

and health to the whole body.

Guard your heart with all diligence,

for from it flow springs of life.

Proverbs 4:23

Put away deception from your mouth;

keep your lips from perverse speech.

Morning on a long terrace: a farmer behind a wooden ard and a yoked pair of oxen, eyes fixed on a far mark, the furrow behind him dead straight.

Let your eyes look forward;

fix your gaze straight ahead.

Make a level path for your feet,

and all your ways will be sure.

Do not swerve to the right or to the left;

turn your feet away from evil.

Pray

One straight step

Ask God to guard your heart. Pray by name for someone in the next generation. Then ask for one straight step today.

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Proverbs 4

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A verse to carry with you

Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

Proverbs 4:23

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